[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 160 (Friday, August 16, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 42593]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20911]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[I.D. 081296B]


Marine Mammals; Scientific Research Permit (P368G)

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Receipt of application.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that James Harvey, Ph.D. and Jenifer 
Hurley, Ph.D., Moss Landing Laboratory, P.O. Box 450, Moss Landing, CA 
(95039-0450), has applied in due form for a permit to take marine 
mammals for purposes of scientific research.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before September 16, 
1996.

ADDRESSES: The application and related documents are available for 
review upon written request or by appointment in the following 
office(s):
    Permits Division, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-
West Highway, Room 13130, Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/713-2289); and
    Director, Southwest Region, NMFS, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, 
Long Beach CA 90802-4213.
    Written data or views, or requests for a public hearing on this 
request, should be submitted to the Director, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13130, Silver Spring, MD 
20910. Those individuals requesting a hearing should set forth the 
specific reasons why a hearing on this particular request would be 
appropriate.
    Concurrent with the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register, NMFS is forwarding copies of this application to the Marine 
Mammal Commission and its Committee of Scientific Advisors.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject permit is requested under the 
authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16 
U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the Regulations Governing the Taking and 
Importing of Marine Mammals (50 CFR part 216), the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the regulations 
governing the taking, importing, and exporting of endangered fish and 
wildlife (50 CFR part 222).
    The applicant proposes to obtain up to 10 California sea lions 
(Zalophus californianus) to conduct three research projects: (1) 
videocamera study--sea lions will be trained to carry a videocamera 
attached to a backpack and will swim alongside whales allowing 
underwater recording of whale behaviors (e.g., diving, feeding and 
mating); (2) tag attachment--sea lions will be used to deliver and 
attach small radio and TDR tags on the backs of large whales. Annually, 
up to 30 each blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) and fin whales (B. 
physalus), 60 humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), 100 gray whales 
(Eschrichtius robustus), 20 each minke whales (Balaenoptera 
acutorostrata) and sperm whales (Physeter catodon), will be tagged, and 
up to 100 gray whales may be inadvertently harassed during research 
activities; and (3) physiological study--the trained sea lions will 
participate in a study of the diving physiology of this species in the 
open ocean.

    Dated: August 12, 1996.
Jeannie Drevenak,
Acting Chief, Permits and Documentation Division, Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 96-20911 Filed 8-15-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F